“I have known Elton since he was a teenager and really want him to succeed. My customers love him and we love him. He is very good at his job.” It’s for both of those reasons Marich said he went to bat for McDonald when he was arrested by the police on gun charges in 2011.

“It was at his 19th birthday that an unwanted guest showed up at his mother’s house,” said Marich. “The police were suspicious of this person.” Two days later, on Sept. 1, 2013, police found a Browning Arms A-bolt .300-calibre rifle stashed in the home. McDonald was charged with possession of firearm without a licence and three other weapons offences.

If there was ever a time for a boss to walk away from an employee, it was right there. Marich did not do that.

“It was all a misunderstanding,” said Marich. “Elton did not know anything about the gun.” It took a couple of years for it to work itself thorough the court system but eventually all the charges were stayed.

“It was shown that it had nothing to do with Elton,” he said.

McDonald said in our interview that he had contact with police over a “weapon found in my house” but “the charges were dropped,” which the Sun has confirmed. He said it was that incident that originally made him nervous to alert police he was the mystery tunnel builder.

“I always believed him,” Marich said.

And believed in him.

He kept him working while on bail and stuck up for him with the authorities.

“I think he would have been in big trouble if I didn’t but I am glad I did,” he said. “He is a good kid.” That said, he said, there are people who grew up within the gang culture in the neighbourhood in which he lives.

“I keep him away from (those elements),” said Marich.

But he admits he can’t keep his eye on him 24-7. For example, until he was contacted by police concerning his equipment being found at the secret excavation near York University, he didn’t know McDonald had built it.

“I knew he was working on something because sometimes he would show up to our site dusty,” Marich said. “But I thought he was doing an underpinning of a basement for a friend .”

Turns out what he was building is now known around the world and Marich said he is not surprised it was well built.

“Elton does very good work,” he said. “If he keeps on this track he will be a home builder one day. It is something Elton wants.”